Advanced Oncotherapy rockets as it improves performance of LIGHT cancer treatment system

Advanced Oncotherapy PLC (LON:AVO) shares shot up in late-morning trading Wednesday after the firm doubloed the power of its LIGHT proton beam cancer treatment system.

The firm said that it had successfully integrated the four sections of its LIGHT proton accelerator, the proton source, the Radiofrequency Quadrupole (RFQ), four Side Coupled Drift Tube Linacs (SCDTLs), and two high-energy accelerating structures, the Coupled Cavity Linacs (CCLs), at its testing facility at CERN in Geneva.

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As a result, AVO said the proton beam had now been accelerated through these units to the anticipated energy of 52 mega electron volts (MeV), double the output energy needed to treat superficial tumours which it reached at the end of last month.

The firm said it was now focused on adding 13 more CCL modules which would increase the energy level to 230MeV, the level required to treat deep-seated tumours.

Meanwhile, the company also said that RaySearch AB, a leading software firm for radio and particle therapies, would be providing their ‘RayCare’ oncology information system (OIS) to both its Harley Street treatment site and its assembly site at Daresbury Laboratory for integration.

AVO had also partnered with Tel-Aviv based firm P-Cure to provide an advanced robotic treatment chair and a vertically tracking diagnostic CT scanner, which would be received at AVO’s assembly centre in 2019.

READ: Advanced Oncotherapy passes key technological milestone

The company also said the construction of its Harley Street site remained on track and was expected to conclude by the middle of next year, while work was progressing at its assembly site to build and prepare the test facility ready for the installation of the full LIGHT system from later this year.

Nicolas Sérandour, chief executive of Advanced Oncotherapy, said the firm had “already achieved the most challenging aspect of constructing a new linear accelerator”, with the addition of the additional CCLs “a relatively simple process”.

He added that discussions with potential customers were “multiplying” and that expected to accelerate as the next phase of development was reached.

Shares were up 30.3% at 43p.

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Story by ProactiveInvestors